For many of us, making a positive impact on the fire service is something we are constantly striving for. Unfortunately at the same time we find ourselves confined by the limits and restrictions that are put on us by our current departments. Whether it’s policies that restrict the content of our messages or the decision makers limiting our involvement in creating positive change because of differing mindsets; we have to play by house rules at home. As the saying goes, “you’re never a profit in your own land”.

The good news is that there is so much more that we can do beyond the walls of our firehouses. I, like so many others, want to do more and be apart of something so much bigger but how do we get there? What avenues are available for us to make the biggest impact possible? How do we create opportunities for ourselves to share our message?

In this class we’ll discuss the lessons that I have learned through a journey of going from being checked out to being all in. This journey has only become possible because I have embraced the discomfort of growth and opportunity. We’ll discuss what it takes to transition from being a firefighter who only takes from the fire service to becoming a firefighter who will truly leave it better than they found it. The amount of positive impact that we can have on the fire service is only limited by our willingness to stretch beyond our comfort zone.